Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE Cromwell: Tuesday, June 23, 1874.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 241, 23 June 1874, Page 5

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE Cromwell: Tuesday, June 23, 1874.

We had some leading matter in type referring to political matters, which we are obliged in consequence of pressure on our apace to omit. We regret this the less, however, as we see Mr MacKellar means to address his constituents on Friday evening first. A special meeting of the Town Council is to be held this evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration Dr Coughtrey’s report to the Superintendent on the sanitary condition of Cromwell. We learn that Mr James Taylor is the successful tenderer fora church (in stone) for the Episcopalian body in Cromwell. On Thursday evening, at the meeting of the Council, one of the members of that body “did a growl” at the manner in which the Argus reported their proceedings. One of the grounds of complaint was that all the motions brought forward were not placed before the public, and if all were not given, in the opinion of this Councillor, there was little use, in giving any. We do not know whether the omission of any notice of the following resolution,' which was brought forward at the previous meeting, had to do with the growl under notice ; but its publication now will give the public some idea of ,what, in the poor judgment of the Argus, is not allowed to encroach on space. We forbear mentioning the name of the proposer for this time, but hope that the lesson will be taken. Reporters are generally allowed a discretion, and the public may judge from the sample of motions omitted whether it be not sometimes wisely exercised. Here is the effusion, which our readers may interpret for themselves “ That if this Council think fit that an open ditch to carry the water along Melmore Terrace, will grant the sum of money to private undertakers in the wav of water supply; that is, to those that have gone to any expense to supply water tanks.” A rather smart shock of earthquake was felt in Cromwell on Satur lay morning last, at a quarter to six. Our Dunedin telegram reports the shock as being felt there also. • A crushing from the Star of the East, Carrick Range, was brought into Cromwell on Wednesday last. The amount of stone put through was 200 tons, and the yield was 123 ounces of gold. The Courts this week again occupied the best part of two davs. I >n Saturday mcirmng, Mr Simpson intimated that as he had been appointed to supply the place of Warden Beet ham in the Wakatip district, he was not sure whether he could return from Queenstown before Saturday, and he could not therefore sav whether he would be able or not to hold Court on the usual day—Friday. Owing to this uncertainty, he adjourned one or two of the cases until Saturday. Mr Beetham has been appointed by the General Government to enquire into certain circumstances connected with the Waimea Water Race, Westland, and we presume Mr Simpson will perform his duties only un il Mr Stratford returns from Mount Ida, which, according to our Lawrence correspondent, will be shortly. Attention is directed to the sale by Mr Fache on July 1 at Messrs Tett’s farm, Lowburn. Besides an assortment of farming implements, a number of horses are to be sold, among which is the Earl of Carrick,, the Clydesdale entire. Mr John Marsh's eldest son met with an accident last Friday, by which one of his legs was broken. He was riding down the Dunstan road, when his horse, in crossing a race, stepped on a stone which was slippery in consequence of the frost, and fell, coming on top of its youthful rider, causing the injury mentioned above. The following choice specimen of English nndefiled we extract from the “ Adventures of George Washington Pratt.” The hero and heroine of the story are travelling in midwinter by 7 conch, under all the disagreeable conditions to which travellers at that season are subject; and at last the driver is obliged to ask them to get out and walk a piece,—an appeal absolutely necessary. The story then goes on :—“ The two animals harnessed to the coach were in the last stage of equine decay. There was a melancholy flicker in their eyes which told of the joys of colt-hood long departed, and imparted to the sympathising beholder an impression that for them the pleasures of corn-cribs and clover-fields had long departed, and that they would gladly lay down their weary load of life and be at rest. Much verbal objurgation, and multifold vigorous applications of whiplashes, whereof catgut constituted an essential component part, had enabled the over-worked driver to “ tool” them to a spot whereat the creatures made a dead stand. In vain he showered upon them a cascade of strong language—a furious cataract of blows. The horses rubbed noses by way of consultation, and ‘ resoluted’ to go no further. ” The man who ■writes English in this style, (to somewhat alter a favourite expression of a late Warden at Clyde) is a public malefactor—in a literary sense only, of course. Mr Fache reports having sold by auction, on Wednesday last, the plint of the Conroy’s Quartz Mining Company, realising for the battery £250, the purchaser being Mr Samuel Willliams, for the Young Australian Company, Carrick Range. The remaining portion of the plant brought fair prices.— Dmstan Times. Tenders were opened at the last meeting of the Waste Land Board for conducting the auction sales for the districts around Clyde. They were as follows ;—Mr Fache, two per cent, for any amount on sales in the Clyde district. Mr Chappie, sales in Clyde district, under £3OO, five per cent. ; £3OO to £SOO, four per cent. ; over £SOO, two and a half per cent. The.tenders were referred to the Executive

At tho last meeting of the Waste Land Board, the following is the only item of interest connected with this district “Mr Bradshaw, for Mr W. N. Scheib, applied for a lease of twenty acres between Nevis and Arrow Bluffs, south side of the Kawarau. The land was wanted to mine for coal. It appeared a survey had yet to be made, and Mr Bradshaw, who had been instructed by telegram, could not tell exactly the area applied for, or the part of it that would be wanted td mine for coal. It was resolved that an application for five acres be received, on the understanding that the usual conditions were complied with.” A Wellington telegram of June 17 is as follows :—“ The Post says one of the crew of the Chevert (the disabled vessel which put in here recently) called at their office, and made a statement that, when five days from Newcastle, the weather being fine, a light breeze blowing, and the vessel going about five knots, Goko—a Tahitian—was sent aloft to furl the main royal, which carried away, owing to rottenness of the rigging. The backstays broke, and the topmast and Goko went over the side. After getting clear of the rigging, Goko swam after the vessel for half an hour, and notwithstanding the entreaties of the crew and the passengers no attempt was made to pick up the unfortunate man. The only reason given for not doing so was that it was no use losing other lives for the sake of one. Finding on arrival that the loss of a man was not reported, and the rotten condition of the rigging, the crew were afraid to go in her.” A telegram of next day says “ it appears that the captain of the Chevert did report the loss of a man to the French Consul. The officers of the barque say he rounded to immediately, but the man sank like a stone. ” It is a common saying, when a road gets in such a bad condition that it becomes dangerous for travellers, or a bridge shows strong signs of decay, that all that is needed is for a bishop (or some other exalted personage) to meet with an accident, when immediately all defects will be remedied. A practical illustration of the truth of this occurred in Cromwell during last week, a City Councillor being the substitute for the bishop in the case. The water-race in Sligostreet had broken away, and the overflow lay a narrow strip of ice from the race as far down the hill as the school gate. The worthy Councillor (also a Public Works Committee-man) had occasion to go up the street in question, and had reached a part about opposite the schoolmaster’s residence, when unfortunately (or fortunately, perhaps, looking at the consequences) he stepped on the ice, and, falling, found himself back at the school gate before he could say “ Jack ilo'oinson,”- if a Councillor could be vulgar enough to say such a thing. Next evening the Council met, and the Councillor succeeded in impressing upon his brethren the necessity for the immediate formation of Sligo-stieet; as may be seen,by reference to our advertising columns, wherein tenders are called. We hope the worthy Councillor will in future take his evening walk up Murray street, and thence by Inniscort-street in the direction of the Court-house—and more falls to him, we say—and may each be attended with a similar result.